Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley has lauded the performance of Jamaica’s Spelling Bee Champion, Regina Bish for placing 16th at the recently concluded 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship in Washington, D.C. Professor Shirley said "you have done your country, your parents, your school and indeed yourself proud. On behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica, I want to congratulate you on your exemplified performance as Jamaica’s representative in the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship."
 
Ambassador Shirley added "I think it is an excellent development that Regina has performed so well and all Jamaicans wherever we live are proud of her achievements. Getting into the semi-finals, he said, and in a much short space of time she has taken Jamaica to greater heights. This he said speaks volumes both of her own intellectual capacity but also of the kind of programed of development that Rev. Archer has done."
 
In a brief congratulatory remarks to the Spelling Bell Champion who called on the Ambassador at the Embassy in Washington, Professor Shirley had high praises for her coach, Rev. Glen Archer, who he said has become an icon in Jamaica and one who has demonstrated over a period of time great commitment to the development of our young people and Jamaica is grateful for his contribution to the development of Spelling Bee. Ambassador Shirley also commended the Gleaner Compant for its continued support of the development of the Spelling Bee competition in Jamaica. This he said, speaks volumes for the Gleaner’s commitment to the development of our country.
 
In his remarks Rev. Glen Archer said that he was honored to be a part of the Spelling Bee program. He saluted Regina for her sterling performance in the program and commended the Gleaner for its consistency for so many years in promoting the Spelling Bee competition. "Considering that Jamaica placed 16th and 11 of the top spellers above Regina’s position were repeat spellers, testifies to the fact that we are a strong country with our program and that when we are good at what we do we are very good internationally", Rev. Archer said.
 
In her comments Mrs. Karin Cooper, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Manager of the Gleaner Company said that a part of the Gleaner’s challenge is to continue to help Jamaica to develop good citizens and if we begin with the children by getting them involved in the Spelling Bee we will develop citizens who think, reason and ultimately we will have a better country and that is why the Gleaner continues to give solid support to the Spelling Bee competition which continues unearth wonderful talents like Regina who certainly can only speak well for what the future of Jamaica holds if they are young people like Regina.
 
In her response the Spelling Bee Champion, Regina Bish said that she felt proud that as a first timer she was able to do her country proud and to have placed 16th in the competition.
 
Regina was accompanied by her mother Janise Manning, Ms. Sonia Morris and representing the Embassy of Jamaica, Mrs. Sharon Miller, Deputy Chief of Mission and Mrs. Janet Madden, Community Relations Attache..

JIS, Washington, DC
Derrick A. Scott

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